The delegates are participating in Open World, a program that brings leaders from the countries of Eurasia to the United States to provide them with an exposure to America’s democratic, accountable government and free-market system.

The group will visit with various local and state policymakers, business leaders and University of Texas at Austin professors, including:

Hope Andrade, Texas Secretary of State

H.W. Brands, the Dickson Allen Anderson Centennial Professor of History

Pflugerville City Council

Jeff Coleman, Pflugerville Mayor

The Texas Emerging Technologies Fund, Office of the Governor of Texas

Michael Treygor, Regional Director of Eurasia, Middle East and Africa

Mark Strama, Democratic State Representative

The Office of the City Auditor

Open World delegates will also take part in several cultural and community activities, including CREEES’ Russian Documentary Showcase, tours of The University of Texas, the State Capitol and downtown Austin.

For more information, contact: Allegra Azulay, Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, 512-232-9123, aazulay@mail.utexas.edu